26 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



coming here in April, and departing in September. It has a weak 

 voice, but it is sharper than that of the other Wagtails, with which 

 it does not associate much, being probably too humble and retiring. 

 It is a haunter of moist meadows and marshy lauds, where its nest is 

 generally built in holes or hollows, or among the tangled roots of 

 old trees; it is formed of grass, moss, or heath, lined with fine grass 

 or hair. The eggs are about six in number, with mottlings of brown 

 and grey on a whitish ground. 



The length of the male is about six inches and a half; it has a 

 black bill with a white band on each side, extending from it over the 

 eyes; the crown of the head and nape of the neck are bluish grey; 

 the chin is white, the throat and breast pale yellow, sometimes 

 approaching to a primrose colour; the back is yellowish green with 

 a tinge of brown, in consequence of the centre of each feather being 

 of that colour ; the wings are mostly dusky brown, with yellowish white 

 margins, they extend to within about three inches of the end of the 

 tail, which is long, and slightly rounded at the end. The feathers of 

 this bird are mostly brownish black, with white and yellowish green 

 edgings. The legs and toes, which are black, are not quite so slender 

 as those of other Wagtails. 



Between the winter and summer plumage there is a considerable 

 change in the colours of these birds, which Yarrell attributes, not to 

 the growth of new feathers, as is the general impression, but to the 

 old ones taking more fresh and brilliant tints on the approach of the 

 breeding season, and losing them again when this is over. 



Ray's Wagtail is the name applied to this bird in some ornithological 

 works, the term neglecta, given to it by Gould, having been found 

 inappropriate, it being a species by no means neglected by continental 

 observers, to whom it is well known, although as rare in this country 

 as our common Yellow Wagtail is on the Continent of Europe. The 

 first specimen shot in Britain was in October, 1834, on Walton Cliffs, 

 near Colchester, in Essex. Yarrell records nine or ten in all which 

 have been taken or seen in this country : since his " History of British 

 Birds "was published others may probably have been secured, but not 

 enough to make it other than a very rare bird with us. 



